WAYNO

Younger folks thrive on loud.  Royal is courting the younger cruisers.  The geezers wont be cruising forever. 

This is a very good question and I'd like to know if folks have figured out a work-around to take advantage of these C&A discounts.  I've never been able to apply the discount and get a better deal than just buying off the cruise planner. 

I've only cruised from Cape Liberty one time, and spent the night in a hotel the night before. 

The only advice I can share, is finalize your research before you get there.  We found no help in any way, from anybody in the area that would give us one ounce of help or guidance.  Not even the fancy hotel would help us other than to tell us to google it!

Total culture shock for a West Coaster.

I know this topic happens often.  And folks are great with encouragement.   I appreciate that.

But I still am biting my lip with anticipation.

Also, seems a strange requirement, turning in your current passport while waiting for a new one.  We have a two month window before our next cruise, and that should be plenty of time.  But in the meantime, if I had the occasion to book another cruise before then, I would not be able to.  Our passport office said if I needed it within a week, I could deliver the application in person in Seattle.

I know, it is what it is.

18 minutes ago, Pooch said:

I thought the 6 month rule only applied to a few islands not cruising as a whole?

I think the emphasis on requirements change, depending on where we are reading them.  And I strongly suspect not everybody reads these requirements the same way.  I had a cousin completely denied boarding recently because she did not have her latest passport.  I just am too chicken to test the rules.

from their website...   "Everyone will need to present an accepted form of identification to board the ship. We strongly recommend that all guests present a passport as their form of ID on boarding day, and for some guests a passport is required.

The passport must be valid for six months after the day your cruise ends. The name on your passport should match the name on your reservation."

It is time.  Our Passports expire next January.  But Royal requires a residual of 6-months left on a passport if used for a cruise.

We cruise throughout the year, so I cannot be without a Passport for very long.  Our next cruise is in April.  I mailed our Passports and paperwork back for renewal today.  Let's everybody cross our fingers that the renewal happens quickly, and I have to fret just a minimal time, being without a Passport.

And yes I ponied up for the expedited renewal.

Thanks.

My Wife and Son are doing this cruise.  7-Night Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo.   We like this cruise and keep coming back for more.

I've done this cruise many times, but not the 8-day version.  You'll have a great time.

Yep, the choice is that of the cruiser.

When we cannot otherwise choose an excursion exciting and new, we often book a geezer tour... an air conditioned bus or van to drive around the port city and point out the views. 

And sometimes it includes a beverage for the road.

@Cactus527

Maybe you've done it before... but, was a  B2B painless enough you'd suggest it?

9 hours ago, bport95 said:

It's very similar to the Taco stations at Chill Grill in Coco Cay

Which I also conveniently have ignored...

I am normally not a food snob.  But this stuff just has not called out to me.

But next time it's available, I will give it a try.

Some folks are best using the guidance of a knowledgeable person when away from their comfort zone.  I continually caution folks when they're buying from the cruise line jewelers or their brick and mortar stores on the islands.   

The shyster car lots of the tourist jewelry trade. 

Two cruises back, my Wife was awarded her cruise points and I was not.  It took well over a month to finally get it sorted out.  And then they  chastised me for using the wrong C&A account number.  Uh, no I didn't use the wrong number.  And every document showed I used the correct number.  And then, after the problem was corrected,  the CEO's problem solver chastised me again for using the wrong number.

Somebody on their end obviously changed something up, but when I'm arguing my case with somebody that struggles with English, that's what I get.  Bottom line, they are never wrong. 

While onboard Navigator last week, when nobody was manning the C&A desk, I tried the Diamond Lounge Concierge, just to make sure my numbers were indeed correct.  The worker read to me some numbers, which did not sound remotely correct.  And when I questioned that my numbers were different, he snapped at me, "that's what I said!" 

No wonder they get our numbers mixed up.

I did not know about this Effy Duck. 

Whoops... I misunderstood. 

I thought this would be a charm, which I would be interested.

I was not allowed to divulge this while we were onboard last week...

I met, for the second time on Navigator, Roger Taylor!

I walked past it on Navigator many times last week, and never even gave it a thought of actually eating there.  I just figured it was just another disappointing South of the border version of the Dog House.  Maybe I just oughta broaden my horizons.

.

25 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

Isn't it funny? Just this cruise, I found the Crown Lounge on Deck 5 forward and the loyalty desk down on Deck 2 forward. I realized this evening that the suite lounge is up on Deck 14 next to the Cosmopolitan. My goal next cruise is to find another place I've never been!

I also found the loyalty desk for the first time while on this cruise.  It was during open hours, but nobody was working the desk.  6 of us waited for the desk to open but  most of us gave up and left.

My Wife feels Navigator is small.  But it's big enough, each time, I find another venue or deck I've never visited.

1 hour ago, Cactus527 said:

After dinner, I hung out in the Cosmopolitan Lounge up on Deck 14 for awhile. It was a beautiful view for sail away out of Ensenada. There was a group of about 10 late-20-something women playing Cards Against Humanity, and it was hysterical to listen to. 

Wow.  Another place on Navigator I did not even know existed.

I think instead of being snarky, a person might re-read the OP question.  Not just because of flight or cruise changes, but because of ground-based vacation planning either before or after the cruise. 

I'll just answer, it did not impact my travel plans while I cruised from Los Angeles last week, but American Airlines did contact me to say my flight may be impacted because of the fire situation, and they would do their best to help me plan around any flight curtailment.  So the question is legitimate, especially for anyone who may be on a foreign planet while visiting Los Angeles. 

https://www.travelandleisure.com/los-angeles-wildfires-airline-lax-alerts-attractions-8771161

14 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

Random observations from the evening/morning:

The Promenade is really hopping after 8pm. I've never spent time there at that hour - it was kind of fun.

 

We found the Promenade last week to have a band or dance party of some kind every night, and very well celebrated.

I am a connoisseur of Sausage Gravy.  In the past, Royal's version of sausage gravy has been a notch below mediocre.

Last week on Navigator, I tried their sausage gravy.  It was quite good!

Don't know if the chef onboard stepped up the recipe a little bit or Royal has changed the recipe altogether.  I will hope this new recipe is a permanent change.

And a week ago, we had to show a paper set sail pass, as nothing worked electronically. 

On 1/17/2025 at 8:19 AM, Cactus527 said:

YAY IT'S CRUISE DAY FOR YOU ALL!!!! 7 days left for me, but I'm NEXT ON NAVIGATOR!!!!!!!!!!

7 days later, we are done and now it is us envious of you!

It is about over.